If there is a "Trac on" light but no "Trac off" light may be telling. It seems strange that they would provide no way of turning Trac off even in the S model. My wife's old Buick Rendezvous had a button on the dash to turn off trac. I think I remember using it once or twice. I'm picking up an S model next weekend and never considered this. I don't think it will be much of a problem for me. Still, it seem like an oversight on Ford's part. I'm guessing that the "Trac off" feature is wired for the "info center" type dash screen and rewiring it for a button on an entry level car was not a priority.

Seriously? Owners manual makes it sound like they all have that. Kooky...

So are you positive it has traction control? Haven't seen a car yet that has TCS installed with no ability to disable it...

When the first two PCM / BCM versions of the 2011 Ford Fiesta came out, it had TCS that could not be switched off. It had (and has) all manner of Ford Fiesta enthusiasts up-in-arms.

Version 3 of the 2011 Fiesta PCM / BCM -- and the 2012 Ford Fiesta can, thru the driver interface menu, allow a person to shut of the TCS (though it is a tedious series of steps).

You can bet that for for the 2012 S model Focus - it has TCS.

Additionally, the Ford cust. svce rep - Natasha -- confirmed to me that TCS was not switchable-off on the S model. The owners' manual is unclear.

If you rig an interupt switch to any one of the ABS wheel sensors, you simultaneously switch off TCS, ESC, and ABS. There is no way, short of getting-in to the PCM / BCM programming, to turn off just TCS or TCS + ESC, but preserve ABS.

The on/off switch on the dash, though it'd cut out all three systems, does have utility. You use it only to get going in glare-ice situation, in an emergency, when another vehicle or cross traffic is bearing down on you, and then, when out of danger, you soon-after re-enable it. It'd take about 20 seconds to re-boot / re-enable all three systems.

BTW, even with an SE, SEL, or Titanium Focus (with switchable-off TCS) I'd still rig the emergency-TCS-off button... 'cause fiddle-farting with the message centre dialogue boxes, etc, is BS when you need quick on/off action.

Oh, and as regards having these system manditory for model year 2012 -- yes you're right -- but defeatable ESC and TSC is allowed, provided that a dashboard light or lights are provided, and provided that on the next start-up, it automatically re-engages all systems (which the Focus does).

No one has figured out how to tone-down or turn off the ESC system, BTW.

Traction Control and ESP and other features are part and parcel of the ABS unit,
The only way to switch it off is through the display menus.
It would be Downright Dangerous and Irresponsible to purposely fiddle with the ABS sensors in any way. Taking out the Fuse would probably make the car unusable.
I've switched off the TC and it comes back by itself once the Ignition is cycled.
Does the "S" model not have a menu display ?

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